So, I've heard of people making their own detergent before, but never really got the urge to do it. Well, adding one more person to the family has seemed to make my time spent washing, folding and putting away laundry become much greater. I saw this recipe on an old co-workers blog and decided to give it a try. This is actually the recipe that the Duggars (19 kids and Counting) use.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (I used plain ole Ivory instead)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water (got mine at Walmart, with top less than 5 bucks). Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil. (I decided not to try this on this batch)
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores. I found mine at Harris Teeter. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
*TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (I used plain ole Ivory instead)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water (got mine at Walmart, with top less than 5 bucks). Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil. (I decided not to try this on this batch)
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores. I found mine at Harris Teeter. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
*TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.
1 comment:
I've used both liquid and powder homemade detergent. I thought it worked pretty good. The liquid makes a lot more, but it is messier.
I think the recipe I used made a smaller batch and I didn't use a 5 gallon bucket, I mixed in a smaller bucket and then poured it into old detergent jugs.
I also used orange essential oil in mine, it does smell good, but you can't smell it once the clothes have been rinsed. Good to see ivory works well, I used Fels-Naptha; found it at Ace Hardware.
Thanks for sharing your pics of your process! PS- Love your family pic on the side!
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